Young, Gifted & Black 2026 Announced at Theatre Peckham

As Theatre Peckham marks 40 years of championing young talent, the theatre has announced the return of its acclaimed Young, Gifted & Black season, a month-long celebration of young Black British creativity running throughout Black History Month.

South London venue Theatre Peckham has announced the return of its acclaimed Young, Gifted & Black season as part of its landmark 40th anniversary year. The eighth edition of the season will present bold new theatre, spoken word and performance exploring identity, belonging, friendship, mental health, migration and community.

The season is presented within Black History Month’s 2026 theme of Honouring Our Communities, recognising the role of Black communities in shaping British society.

Theatre Peckham CEO and Artistic Director Suzann McLean said of the announcement:

“As we celebrate our 40th year and start our new long-term management of Canada Water Theatre we enable young artists from Southwark to create work that reveals the richness of Black British life. Theatre Peckham has long been a place where young people discover their voice, and Young, Gifted & Black demonstrates what happens when they are given the stage.”

A season of bold new voices

The season opens with a Young Peckham production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set during Notting Hill Carnival, reimagining Shakespeare through an unapologetically Black British lens.

The programme also includes spoken word plays Lorraine Adeyefa’s Her and the Voice in Her Head, Ryan Dre Sinclair’s No Photos and Intrusive Theatre’s In My Head. These works examine young people’s internal worlds, navigating self-image, relationships and mental wellbeing.

The season also showcases Theatre Peckham’s commitment to developing new artists through the Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project, presenting ten new playwrights inspired by the legacy of Alex Wheatle.

The full Young, Gifted & Black programme

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1–3 October at Theatre Peckham
Her and the Voice in Her Head by Lorraine Adeyefa, 2–3 October at Theatre Peckham
A Collection of Conversations by Munashe Danga. 2–3 October at Canada Water Theatre
No Photos by Ryan Dre Sinclair, 8–9 October at Theatre Peckham
Greener Pastures by Nana Adjoa Baidoe-Ansah, 8–9 October at Canada Water Theatre
X Marks the Spot by Joy Kirigo, 10–11 October at Canada Water Theatre
In My Head by Intrusive Theatre, 15–16 October at Canada Water Theatre
Don’t Write Me Off by Actively SEEK.I.N.G, 16 October at Theatre Peckham
The Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project Sharing, 17 October at Canada Water Theatre
In Her Eyes I’m a Good Man by Mo Korede, 22–23 October at Theatre Peckham
Before I Go: Marcel by Tobi King Bakare, 25 October at Theatre Peckham
Poetry Foyer: Black History Month Edition, 29 October at Theatre Peckham
Legacy After Dark, 30 October at Theatre Peckham

About Theatre Peckham

Founded in 1986 by Teresa Early MBE and now led by Dr Suzann McLean MBE, Theatre Peckham is a multi-award-winning learning theatre serving Peckham, Camberwell and Southwark.

Each year, thousands of children, young people, artists and local residents engage with the theatre’s work, benefiting from over 25,000 contact hours of creative activity. Notable alumni include John Boyega.

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Main photo: Theatre Peckham's Young, Gifted & Black Returns